Overview

The Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, one of the Seven Wonders of the Middle Ages, serve as the starting point of this full-day private tour of Alexandria. Avoid the crowds and pay entry. Visit the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a renowned cultural hub near to the Mediterranean Sea, where you may learn about the history of the area. Visit Alexandria’s well-known Amphitheatre before taking a comfortable ride back to Cairo.

HIGHLIGHTS

Alexandria, a storied port city on the Mediterranean coast founded by Alexander the Great, attracts few tourists in Egypt. Find out about Alexandria’s lesser-known sites during this private day tour with hotel transfers from Cairo or Giza. Alexandria was formerly renowned for its enormous library, which contained 500,000 books, and the Pharos of Alexandria, the most well-known lighthouse in the ancient world. There are other ancient ruins that have survived, like the Roman Theater, and medieval wonders, such the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, that you can tour instead of those legendary monuments. Visit the contemporary Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a library created to honor Alexandria’s historic epicenter of learning, after a satisfying lunch in a nearby restaurant. Take a astroll along the Corniche, a historic waterfront promenade, before private transfer back to your hotel.

Itinerary

After your breakfast, take a sit in an air-conditioned vehicle to Alexandria.
Venture into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa. Mixing the best of Egyptian, Greek and Roman funerary art, this roman necropolis was one of the seven wonders of the medieval world. Nowadays, you can still admire the set of tombs, statues and archeological items.
Nearby, you can’t miss the monumental Pompey Pillar. Contrary to what its name suggests, this pillar has nothing to do with the famous Roman general Pompey ! The pillar was actually erected in the glory of the emperor Diocletian in 291. Made of one whole piece of Aswan’s red granite, Pompey pillar reaches a height of 26.85 m. This impressive structure is located on the ruins of the temple of Serapis, the Egyptian-Greek god and protector of Alexandria. Next to the Pillar, you can admire a sphinx built in honor of Serapis.
Your journey leads you now to Saint Catherine Church. Facing the religious building, examine the details of its neo-baroque architecture. Once you get inside, you will be amazed by the way the sunlight enters the building and highlights its magnificence. According to Christian tradition, Saint Catherine was a princess and a scholar who became Christian at the age of 14 and converted with her hundreds of pagans. After being tortured and imprisoned, she was finally executed by emperor Maxentius and as a result became a martyr.
Visit Alexandria national Museum. Hinging on three main collections, this museum tells the history of the ancient cosmopolitan city.
Discover Qaitbay Citadel, a legacy of the Mameluke Dynasty built on the vestige of what used to be one of the seven wonders of the ancient world: the lighthouse of Alexandria.
Erected in 1477 by Sultan Ashram Sayf El Din QaitBay the citadel is a perfect example of the Mameluke military architecture. It was specially constructed to protect Alexandria from the invasion of the Ottoman Empire.
End you day in the Cornish, with a walk on Stanley Bridge from which you can enjoy an incomparable view on the sea. At night the bridge is beautiful enlightened, making spark the water it overhangs